Hospital school gets ‘outstanding’ rating

A SCHOOL which caters for poorly children unable to attend their regular classes has been judged “outstanding” by Government inspectors.

The Hospital School provides education for youngsters aged three to 19 receiving NHS treatment.

It operates across three sites, Leicester Royal Infirmary for patients on children’s wards, Willowbank School in Leicester city and Coalville Community Hospital. It also has an outreach team.

The rating, following an inspection by Ofsted officials, is a grade up from the positive 2013 probe in 2013 which listed the educational provision as “good”.

In the most recent report, inspectors said headteacher Stephen Deadman was a “dedicated visionary leader” who had helped to create an aspirational learning culture.

Inspectors said pupils made “substantial progress” across the curriculum and towards their personal targets. They said “extremely effective programmes of support underpinned the school’s work” and highly positive working relationships with parents ensured pupils progressed.

They added the curriculum was “exciting and wide-ranging” with “topics, enrichment activities and special events that stimulated curiosity and promoted pupils’ interest in learning.”

Mr Deadman said he was “thrilled” by the report, adding it was down to the hard work of staff who were willing to go “above and beyond” to support pupils in their learning.

Comments from parents and pupils were included in the report. One parent said: “I could not have dreamed how happy and successful my son would be at the school. The staff are amazing angels in disguise, every one of them.”